Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.3935/rsp.v9i1.185
The Impact of Globalisation on Smaller Countries and the Role of Smaller Countries in the Process of Globalisation: the Example of Social Policy and Social Work
Horst Sing
; Fakultät für Soziale Arbeit, Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
Sažetak
Since their beginnings, in the wake of industrialisation and democratisation, social policy and social work became embedded in the context of the legislation of the nation, the value system of the welfare state and the productivity of the functional systems. The first wave of globalisation after the Second World war particularly favoured the idea that the synergy effects of this triad, particularly in the so-called First World, could be continued and enlarged after the end of the Cold War, and that after some time the countries of the former East Bloc and subsequently large parts of the so-called Third World could be included in that. However, it seems that instead of strengthening this triad, the current globalisation processes increasingly favour the functional systems which are constantly increasing their capacity and productivity, but only within their special ethics and interests (“codes”). Thus the competition of these functional systems – particularly that of the “global players” represented by economic, technological and financial power – progressively becomes the motor of the globalisation, weakening at the same time the importance of the classical welfare state values of the ideology and the role of the state, the nation and the political systems in this national and international interaction. The smaller countries particularly feel the challenge of the current globalisation processes: the rich ones (for example the Nordic countries in Europe) fear that the “global players” will undermine the national community of solidarity they had built up until now through highly qualified social security and education systems. The nations of the former East Bloc are also becoming involved in a fundamental process of transformation, and since they have to build up new social structures, they are subjected to the double challenge of transformation and globalisation. The reaction of the representatives of social policy and social work is often resignation or the retreat to a pseudo-ethical ghetto with the feeling of moral superiority, but this attitude is counter-productive. Social policy has to become something like an independent functional system. In this new context social policy and social work will get new dimensions, but this does not mean that the role of the state or the nation will be slowly marginalized. The role of the smaller countries is indispensable in the current globalisation processes, because in them the nation is still the largest institution that at the same time combines the democratic legitimacy, the power of political pressure and a certain transparency.
Ključne riječi
globalisation; small countries; social policy; social work
Hrčak ID:
30086
URI
Datum izdavanja:
1.1.2002.
Posjeta: 6.570 *